Thread: Sick Child Denied SS at Four Year Old Is Still Sick

Death of Travolta's son raises medical questions

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_ ... n_seizures

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner, Ap Medical Writer – Tue Jan 6, 6:19 pm ET

Millions of children and adults have seizures in the United States, but dying from one is rare. That only adds to the confusion and mystery surrounding the life and death of Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

The death certificate lists a seizure as the cause of death, according to an undertaker in the Bahamas, where the boy died Friday. Family representatives and lawyers declined requests Tuesday for more information, fueling speculation that has swirled for years about the boy's health.

A Travolta attorney said the teen had a history of seizures, and John Travolta has said his son was successfully treated when he was 2 for a rare disease called Kawasaki syndrome, which can lead to heart disease and related problems.

Medical specialists who did not treat the boy told The Associated Press on Tuesday that while Kawasaki syndrome is poorly understood, it's extremely unlikely the disease had anything to do with the teen's death.

Gossip magazines and blogs long have suggested the boy also had autism — a claim John Travolta denied. Autism is frequently accompanied by seizures that experts believe may stem from the same brain abnormalities that cause the developmental disorder.

Dr. Michael Kohrman, a University of Chicago pediatric neurologist, said up to one-third of children with autism have some sort of seizure disorder.

Still, there are dozens of other causes of seizures. Recurrent seizures are sometimes called epilepsy and are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. These affect more than 3 million Americans.

Mild seizures can be barely noticeable; severe ones can cause convulsing and loss of consciousness.

"Sudden death in epilepsy is not an unheard-of phenomenon," said Dr. Bruce Cohen, a staff neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

It can happen with seizures lasting more than 15 or 20 minutes, typically when medicine stops working or if patients quit taking medicine, Cohen said. One way death occurs in these cases is respiratory muscles weaken from prolonged convulsions and the patient stops breathing, he explained.

More rarely, he said, about one in 1,000 epileptics die each year from a condition doctors call "sudep," or a sudden unexplained death that typically occurs with no sign of a seizure. Whether this happened to Jett Travolta or whether autopsy officials in the Bahamas know that term is uncertain.

"We're dealing with a massive lack of information," Cohen said.

Michael Ossi, an attorney for the Travoltas, and Samantha Mast, a Travolta publicist, told the AP by e-mail that they would not discuss details of the boy's illness.

Jett Travolta's body was cremated, and the autopsy report has not been released.

The Travoltas have said little about their son's condition and his medical treatment over the years. The couple are Scientologists, followers of the controversial religion created by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

The church is not commenting specifically on the Travolta case. But church policy is for members to seek a doctor for medical treatment of a physical condition, including taking any drugs prescribed.

"The bottom line is that Scientologists seek conventional medical treatment for medical conditions," said Tommy Davis, a spokesman for the Church of Scientology International in Los Angeles.

Kawasaki syndrome, the disease the family has said sickened Jett when he was a toddler, can cause inflammation in blood vessels and arteries. It typically features a persistent high fever accompanied by symptoms that can include bloodshot eyes; swelling in hands, feet and neck lymph nodes; a red rash on the arms and legs; and cracked, swollen lips.

Most cases occur in the first five years of life, and if treated promptly with aspirin and intravenous gamma globulin, children are essentially cured, said Dr. Cody Meissner, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

While inflammation can sometimes lead to burst arteries or heart damage, Meissner said most children have no complications. And those who do would develop them soon after diagnosis — not several years later, Meissner said.

"If 10 years or more had gone by, it would be very unlikely that seizure activity could be attributed to Kawasaki disease," Meissner said.

Kelly Preston blamed household cleaners and fertilizers for the disease and said a detoxification program based on Scientology teachings helped improve his health, according to People magazine.

Meissner said there is scientific evidence linking professional-strength carpet cleaners with the disease.

Davis, the Scientology spokesman, acknowledged the detoxification program, but said its benefits are spiritual.

"Scientology is a religion," he said. "We deal with the spirit, and mental and spiritual factors that affect someone's happiness and well-being."

___

AP Religion Writer Eric Gorski in Denver contributed to this report.

Now you know my good luck here at ALIPAC. Well here is the truth and meat of my story.

About three weeks before Christmas my youngest son was doing a science project with a wonderful and special 12 year old child.

This new beautiful young friend has a terrible heart condition from Kawasaki syndrome, and there is more he was denied at age four of Social Security and Medicare, I just learned yesterday.

Actually, he had heart surgery, the damage from Kawasaki syndrome when he was four. He has to take 3 pills daily for his condition. Doesn't get to play sports for the fear of getting hit in the chest. Has to watch his diet. Mother fears the children on the bus are bullying him and a meeting was done on that matter just last week.

I am PISSED Off. I can tell he is sick and I kept asking my son why his science project buddy was missing school. Now we know.

I wrote the school principal yesterday asking what she is doing in this matter. I have not heard from her as of yet. My heart is so heavy with grief that this child, single mom, and little sister of five have endured this pain without knowledge that care was to be provided, but the single mom needed to fight Social Security.

Within the last few weeks I have learned to much about this situation and Kawasaki to not say something. I have known Social Security to be given to children with speech problems.

You would not believe this child's attitude and wonderful outlook on life.

VOmkey52 that is a very sad story. And it makes me angry to think that ilelgals and their anchor babies getting free medical care while this American child is/was getting no help. Poor child.

More common then any of us know.
I have a friend that has breast cancer that moved into her bones from not having medical check up. Dr. visit in my area cost uninsured about 260.00 a visit. Thats just for the visit.
No insurance So Of course Dr.s said there is nothing they can do for her
(no money to be made).

Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 8:30 AM
To: Principal
Subject: Wondering about young Student


Dear Principal:

I am wondering if you know about ___ ____ having the same heart disease as John Travolta son. I have been so upset with the passing of Jett Travolta. I have called _____'s mom to check in and say, "Hi". But I am concerned about the whole family.

My child tells me he spoke with him on the phone and that he is sick again and out of school. My major concern is his health. I want to make sure Social Security for Disability and Medicare is helping _____and his family.

The last time that I spoke and saw the mom, one week before Christmas she was telling me that children on the bus was picking on ____. This upset me of course for _____ cannot even play sports in fear of being hit in the chest. _____ has to take three medicines daily for his heart problems. And it is my understanding that he has endured heart surgery already. He is such a brave and loving child.

I know you are busy but you may want to go and visit the family.

I am so concerned.

Sincerely,

_____________________________________________-

Return message from Principal:

Ms. _____,

Thank you for sharing your concerns. We will certainly look into the details of ______ ’s health.

Have a great day!

Principal , M.S.A.

Principal

Originally Posted by posylady

More common then any of us know.
I have a friend that has breast cancer that moved into her bones from not having medical check up. Dr. visit in my area cost uninsured about 260.00 a visit. Thats just for the visit.
No insurance So Of course Dr.s said there is nothing they can do for her
(no money to be made).

The same thing happened to my mom. She was raising me and my brother alone in 1991 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her employer fired her leaving her unable to get chemo that she needed immediately. She was denied any sort of assistance and the cancer was left untreated for over a year before she began dating my stepdad and he immediately started chemo and radiation. In 1993, the cancer spread to her ribs and had to have a bone marrow transplant. The cancer came back in 1997 and we lost her in the hospital during a second transplant on April 29, 1998.